For a sport known for its precision, there have been quite a few unfortunate instances in golf where errant shots have led to spectator injuries. During the 2018 Ryder Cup, Brooks Koepka’s tee shot struck a female spectator, resulting in a severe eye injury that caused her to lose vision in that eye. Similarly, in 2021, during the Shriners Children’s Open, Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama’s drive veered off course and hit a fan in the head, leaving a gory wound that required six stitches.​ While the Masters concluded without any such hiccup, one unlucky fan found themselves at the end of a wayward tee shot at the RBC Heritage.

Billy Horschel’s tee shot on the par-4 10th hole on the first round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Thursday took an unfortunate turn when it blasted a female spectator right in the shin. The ball ricocheted off her leg and back onto the fairway, leaving her with a massive welt. Horschel didn’t even realize what had happened until he reached his ball in the rough and was informed that a fan had been hit.

When Horschel saw the extent of the damage, he sprang into action – but not in the way you might expect. Instead of just apologizing and moving on, Horschel decided to turn into a tattoo artist! He took out a Sharpie pen, encircled the welt on the leg with it, and signed around it. With dozens of fans surrounding them, the injured fan, despite being in obvious pain, took the incident in stride and even laughed it off as Horschel gave her a hug before shooting a 72 that would put him a T51 heading into round two, leveling with the likes of Robert MacIntyre, Chris Kirk and Michael Kim. after one round. Here, take a look:

Here’s what Horschel managed to say after the round, “She handled it like a legend. I felt awful, but she was laughing about it. Signing her leg? Definitely a first.” The fan might have been left with a sore leg, but she’s definitely got a story to tell – and a signed leg to boot to show for it!

Horschel’s act takes us back to what happened with Hideki Matsuyama and a fan in 2021. While competing in the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, Hideki Matsuyama launched a drive on the 16th hole during his second round on Friday that veered sharply to the right. The shot struck a fan on the head, leaving him in a bloody mess. Mastsuyama signed an autograph for him and apologized, but the fan had to be taken to the hospital.

Matsuyama later gave him a signed glove with the words “I’m sorry!!” Meanwhile, Horschel went on to par the hole and finished his round with a 71.

After the clip of Horschel’s tee shot striking the fan’s leg went viral on social media, it became one of the most talked-about moments of the day.

Netizens are losing it in the comment section

Starting strong with what one fan said, “Official diagnoses of bone bruise and hematoma,“ the other said, “That definitely left a mark 😂.” Well, this isn’t the first time this has happened with a fan on the course. Back in May 2024, Jordan Spieth‘s ball took an incredible bounce off a fan’s elbow at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, defying odds and landing back in the fairway on the 16th hole.

The ball hit the fan’s forearm, leaving a golf-ball-sized welt, but miraculously, the fan escaped serious injury. Spieth, grateful for the luck, rewarded the fan with a signed golf ball and a $20 bill, giving him an unforgettable story to tell.

One fan said, “That’s an insane lump on that woman’s leg,” while the other said, “That’s one badass bruise!!”  Well, while getting bruised on the leg is a pretty fair occurrence in golf, getting the ball lodged in someone’s lap is a rare one—and Rory McIlroy experienced both the luck of the game and its unpredictable nature at the DP World Tour Championship. His round was marked by surreal moments, including his ball wedging itself in a female fan’s lap on the par-three 13th hole, prompting McIlroy to pretend to take the shot before taking a free drop.

McIlroy also benefited from huge breaks on the 18th hole, where his ball first hit a rock, flew to safety, and then ricocheted from the water hazard onto a bridge and the grass, allowing him to escape with a par. Despite a bogey-prone stretch, McIlroy finished with a one-under 71, four shots behind the leaders, and later opened up about his decision to quit the PGA Tour policy board, citing too much on his plate with golf, family, and other commitments.

“Billy Horschel just obliterated, then signed a woman’s shin,” one fan said.

What do you think about the compensation received for the bruise? Let us know in the comment section below!